Casting, finishing, and cooling apparatus for curved stereotype printingplates



H. A. W. WOOD. v CASTING, FlNlSHlNG, AND 000mm APPARATUS FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLAIES.

APPLICATION FI LED MAR. 31, 1915. 1,382,532.,

RENEWED MAY 16, I919.

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CASTING, FINISHING, AND COOLING- APPARATUS FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

RENEWED MAY 16. I9I9.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. ISIS. 1,332,532.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETSE-SHEET 2- lUNTTlED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR T0 XVOOD NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

CASTING, FINISHING, AND COOLING APPARATUS non onnvnto sTEnnoTYrE PRINTING- rnarns.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Application filed March 31, 1915, Serial No. 18,248. Renewed May 16, 1919. Serial No. 297,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. WISE VVoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Casting, Finishing, and Cooling Apparatus for Curved Stereotype Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for making curved stereotype printing plates, especially those known as tubular plates.

The objects of the invention are largely like the objects of the invention set forth in my application for Letters Patent on casting and finishing apparatus for curved stereotype printing plates, filed March 11, 1915, Serial No. 13,733 renewed on even date with the renewal of this case.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a horizontal machine of the type set forth in the above mentioned application in which the casting box is substantially independent of the ejecting, tail cutting and cooling mechanism, the said mechanisms being supported independently of the casting box and adapted to be connected with it operatively when the box is in position for delivering the cast plate; and to provide improved and simplified means for cutting the tail from the plate after it is ejected, and an improved cooling device and controlling connections therefor as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in -which- Figure l is a side elevation of a casting, finishing and cooling machine constructed in accordance with this invention, parts be ing shown in longitudinal central section;

i 2 is a plan of the same with the parts in delivering position;

' Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; llig. f is a sectional view on the line let of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the casting box while in casting position; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4-.

JhS stated, this invention is particularly adaptable for use in making the so-called tubular stereotype printing plates which are of a substantially complete cylindrical form, simply a narrow gap being provided, the width of the margin.

The machine is shown as provided with a main frame 10 on which are horizontal trunnions 11 for supporting a casting box 12. This casting box is provided with bearings 13 and 14- on which are journaled the ends of a revoluble core 15. The core and casting box are shown as water cooled, but that does not constitute a feature of this invention.

The casting box is designed to be held in two positions, one the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 for receiving the molten metal, and the other the horizontal delivering position shown in full lines. The frame 10 is provided with a pair of notches 16 for receiving a spring latch 17 fixed to the box for the purpose of bolding the casting box in either of these two positions. The spring latch is provided with a handle 18 for operating it. This is adapted to be grasped by the operator when he grasps the handle 19 by which he turns the casting box so that he can release the spring latclr from one notch and then allow it to slip into the other when it reaches its proper horizontal or vertical position.

The open end of the casting box is provided with a radial web 20 extending from the bearing 14- to the side of the box. This is made sufficiently thin to avoid overlapping the edges of the matrix which are inserted in receiving grooves in the matrix bar 21 in the same manner as described in my above mentioned application. This ma trix bar is located behind the web 20, and its construction and functions preferably are the same as in said application.

This matrix bar not only holds the matrix in proper position, but holds the cast plate against turning and causes the slate to be ejected when the core is turned, t e core being provided with a helical groove 210 as in my above mentioned case. The core is also provided with shaving blades 22 thereon for shaving the interior of the plate as will be forced hub is keyed to a vertical shaft the same is ejected by the rotation of the core.

Located at the end of the frame 'is shown a pedestal for supporting the plate ejecting and cooling and tail cutting mechanism and as this mechanism also constitutes the mechanism for turning the core it may be (onsidered that this pedestal also supports the main part of the finishing mechanism. On this pedestal is shown a horizontal driving shaft 23 having a driving pulley 24L thereon. This driving shaft is provided with a worm 26 meshing with a worm wheel 27 which is loosely mounted on a hub 28 having a vertical axis. This 29 supported centrally by the pedestal. The worm wheel 27 carries a spring-seated pin 30. By means of a tapered cam 32, reciprocably supported by the pedestal 25, this pin is normally kept out of a hole or socket 31 in a flange on the hub. In this case the worm wheel 27 may revolve continuously without transmitting any motion to the vertical shaft 29. However, as soon as the cam 32 is withdrawn by means of a treadle mechanism 33 or the like the pin is pressed down by a spring into contact with the surface of the flange on the hub 28. When it rotates to a position in which the pin 30 registers with the hole or socket 31, the pin into the socket and the shaft 29 will then be rotated positively.

This shaft is. connected by miter gears 34L with a shaft 35. This shaft is provided with a slabbed end 36 adapted to engage in a central slot 37 in the end of the core journal. This mechanism constitutes means for rotating the core and withdrawing the plate. It will be understood that after this mechanism is started and the pin 30 leaves the vicinity of the cam 32, this cam is then allowed to spring back into the path of the pin, as in the other application mentioned. Consequently after a complete rotation the pin engages this cam and is automatically withdrawn from the socket 31. This stops the shaft in the position shown in Fig. 2. The slabbed end is adapted to be received by the slotted end of the core journal when the core is turned over into horizontal position with the casting box. It will'be seen therefore that upon casting the plate and turning the casting box over into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the parts are brought into a position in which by pressing on the treadle 33, the core will be turned the plate ejected, and its interior shaved. and that the parts will then come back into position for starting another op er atlon.

The pedestal 25 is provided with a plate support or saddle 38 constituting a bearing for the shaft 35 and alined with the core when the latter is in its horizontal position and tube 45.

This saddle receives the cast plate as it slides out of the casting box and directs it on a tail cutting cylinder 39 whirh is alined with the saddle 38. The shaft 35 extends through this tail cutting cylinder and overhangs its bearings so as to support this cylinder loosely on it, the cylinder being free to rotate on the end of the shaft 35.

The cylinder 39 has a cored water space 41. The surface of the cylinder is provided with perforations 42 and water is supplied to this space 41 through a pipe 13, valve 44,

The valve 4% is concentric with the shaft 35. The cylinder 39 is provided with a handle 46 by which this cylinder can be rotated on the shaft 35. When the handle is rotated obviously the tube and valve i4: are rotated also. The passage in the valve 4% is located with respect to the passage in the valve casing that when the end of the handle is down as shown in Fig. 1 and the cylinder is in position for receiving the cast plate the valve will be closed. As soon as the handle and cylinder are turned from that position the valve opens and remains open until the cylinder comes back substantially to receiving position. It is intended to rotate the cylinder and plate a complete revolution. A pan a7 is shown for collecting the water and draining it off.

Vertically below the cylinder 39 is a tail cutting mechanism which comprises a chain and sprocket connection 48 for driving a shaft 49 from the shaft 23. On this shaft is a beveling tail cutter 50 which cuts off the tail of the plate as the same is rotated with the cylinder 39.

It will be observed that the saddle 38, although cylindrical in form is provided with a longitudinal finlike support 51 at the bottom thereof having a thickness not greater than the thickness of the web 20. This is to receive the gap in the plate and to guide the plate along the saddle after it moves away from the web 20 which guides it until it is entirely out of the casting box.

The cylinder 39 is also provided with a fin 52 longitudinally located thereon which comes into a position at the bottom when the handle 46 is located at the bottom, was 11 to register with the web 51,. In this way the plate is substantially fixed on the cylinder 3-9 and-positively turns around with it.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The metal is poured while the box is in the 1 vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. WVhen properly set, the box is turned over by hand to the horizontal position; the treadle 33 is depressed and the plate with its matrix and pouring sheet attached is 1 ejected from the box by the rotation of the threaded core. The pin 30 is then automatically withdrawn and the shaft 35 stops. The plate then rests on the saddle 38 and is manually moved over on the cooling saddle and tail cutting cylinder 39, the gap in the plate at the margin being kept at the bottom throughout its motion by the web 20 and the fins 51 and 52. It will be understood,of course, that a space is provided in the tail by strips at the edges of the matrix bar 21 for allowing it to pass over the tail cutter in the same manner as shown in my above mentioned application. The handle 46 is then turned and the plate is cooled and the tail trimmed off during a revolution of the cylinder 39. Meantime the box can be returned to casting position and receive another cast. The matrix and pouring sheet are removed from the plate by hand while it is on the saddle 38 and repla ed in-the box immediately if desired.

It will be understood that I have not herein illustrated all the details of the practical machine for the reason that they are made substantially the same as the corresponding parts shown in my above identified prior application, and reference is to be had thereto for the details of the matrix bar, pouring sheet, and similar parts.

I do not claim in this application the tail cutting and cooling mechanism and the receiving saddle dislosed herein, these being claimed in a divisional application, Ser. No. 344,236, filed Dec. 11, 1919.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, 1 am aware of the fact that many modifica ti-ons can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and des'ribed, but what I do claim is 1. The combination with a casting box and core provided with means whereby the relative rotation of said box and core will eject a cast plate, of a shaft for rotating the rotatable element, said box and core belng movable into alinement with the shaft.

2. The combination with a casting box and core provided with means whereby the relative rotation of said box and core will eject a cast plate, said box being pivoted to swing on a transverse horizontal axis, of a shaft in position to engage and rotate the core when the box is turned to horizontal position.

3. The combination of a casting box mounted to swing down from an upright position, a core rotatably mounted therein, said core and box having means whereby when the core is rotated a cast plate will be ejected, and a rotatable shaft mounted in stationary bearings and having means for engaging and turning the core when the box is swung down.

4-. The combination of a casting box mounted to turn from vertical position for receiving molten metal to horizontal position for delivering a cast plate, a core permanently located, but rotatable, in said box, and means independent of the box for engaging the core when the box is turned to horizontal position and rotating the core.

5. The combination with a casting box having a core rotatably mounted therein and provided with an open end through which a cast plate can be ejected, of a stationary web extending halfway across said open end and supporting one end of the core.

6. The combination with a casting box having a core rotatably mounted therein and provided with an open end through which a cast plate can be ejected, of a stationary web extending halfway across said open end radially, and a matrix bar located behind the web.

7. The combination with a casting box having a core rotatably mounted therein and provided with an open end through which a cast plate can be ejected, of a stationary webextending partway across said open end and supporting one end of the core, and means for Withdrawing the cast plate past said web, whereby the plate will be guided thereby.

8. The combination with a casting box having a core rotatably mounted therein and provided with an open end through which a cast plate can be ejected, of a stationary web extending halfway across said open end and supporting one end of the core, and means supported independently of the casting box for rotating the core.

9. The combination with a casting box movable from vertical position for receiving molten metal to a horizontal position for delivering a cast plate and a core movable with the box but capable of turning on its own axis therein, of a power driven shaft located in horizontal position and adapted to engage the core when the box is moved to horizontal position, means for holding the casting box positively in definite vertical and horizontal positions, in the latter of which the core will register with said shaft, and means whereby the rotation of said shaft will rotate the core and eject a cast plate from the casting box.

10. The combination with a casting box movable from vertical position for receiving molten metal to a horizontal position for delivering a cast plate and a core movable with the box but capable of turning on its own axis therein, of a power driven shaft located in horizontal position and adapted to engage the core when the box is moved to horizontal position, means whereby the rotation of said shaft will rotate the core and eject a cast plate from the casting box, and means carried by the core for shaving the interior of the cast plate while the casting is being ejected.

core therein, and

11. The combination with a casting box movable from receiving to delivering position, of a shaft located concentric with the box when in delivering position, said shaft having a slabbed end, and a core rotatably mounted in the casting box and having a slotted end adapted to engage the slabbed end of the shaft when the casting box is moved to delivering position.

12. The combination with a casting box movable from receiving to delivering position, a shaft in alinement with the casting box when in the latter position, a core in the casting box, means for connecting said shaft with the core when the casting box and core move to delivering position, means for rotating said shaft through a complete revolution, and means for stopping the shaft in the position in which it will be positively engaged and connected with the core when the casting box is turned to delivering position.

13. The combination of a casting box, a core therein, and means whereby, upon the rotation of the core, a plate cast between the box and core will be ejected from the box longitudinally, with a shaft in alinement with the box and core for turning the core, and a saddle concentric with said shaft for receiving the plate from the box.

14. The combination with a casting box, a means whereby upon the rotation of the core, a plate cast between the box and core will be ejected from the box longitudinally, of a shaft for turning the core, and a saddle concentric with said shaft for receiving the plate from the box, said saddle being stationary and said casting box being movable to and from a position in alinement' with the shaft.

15. The combination of a casting box, a core therein, means whereby, a plate cast between the box and core can be ejected from the box longitudinally, a saddle for receiving the plate from the box, said. saddle be ing stationary and said casting box being movable to and from a position in alinement with the saddle, said casting box having a radial web at its open end for supporting one end of the core'and supporting a matrix bar and said saddle having a radial web for receiving the gap in the plate produced by the matrix bar and guiding the plate on the saddle.

16. The combination with a casting. box having a core rotatably mounted therein and provided with an open end through which a cast plate can be ejected, of a stationary webextending halfway across said open end and supporting one end of the core, means for withdrawing the cast plate past said web, whereby the plate will be guided thereby, and a support for receiving the plate when withdrawn from the box, said support having a radial fin registering with said web for guiding the plate on the support.

iaeaasz 17. The combination of a casting box,- a core therein, means whereby a plate cast ,between the box and a core can be ejected from the box longitudinally, a saddle concentrlc with said box for receiving the plate from the box, said casting box having a web at its open end for supporting one end of the core, and said saddle having a web for receiving the gap in the plate and guiding the plate on the saddle, a cooling cylinder located on said shaft, in alinement with said saddle, and having a longitudinal fin thereon adapted to register with the web which supports the saddle, whereby a plate may be guided on the cylinder from the saddle.

18. In a tubular stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a casting box, a plate receiving saddle in alinement therewith, and a rotatable cooling cylinder for receiving the plate from the saddle, located in alinement'with the saddle, said casting box having a radial web at its open end, and said saddle and cylinder having radial projecting fins thereon normally in alinement with said web for guiding the plate.

19. In a tubular stereotype plate making machine, the combination of a casting box, a plate receiving saddle, and a cooling cylinder for receiving the plate from the saddle, said casting box having a web at its open end, and said saddle and cylinder having radial projecting fins thereon in alinement with said web for guiding the plate.

.20. In combination with a tubular plate casting box including a movable core, of means for imparting separate movement to the cast plate upon the core in unison with the movement of the core.

21. The combination with a.box for easting a tubular plate, of a swinging core, a relatively movable member connected with a core, and means independent of the core for engaging said member when the core moves and imparting a longitudinal movement to the plate during the motion of the core.

22. The combination with a casting box and core provided with means whereby the relative rotation of said box and core will eject a cast plate, said box being pivoted to 1 swing on a transverse axis, of a shaft in position to engage and rotate the core when the box is turned to a position for delivery.

23. The combination of a casting box mounted to turn from a position for receiving molten metal to a position for delivering acast plate, a core permanently located, but rotatable relative to said box, and means independent of the box for causing a relative rotation of the box and the core when the box is turned to delivering position.

24:. The combination with a casting box having a core relatively rotatable therein and provided with an open end, of a stationary web extending halfway across said open end and supporting one end of the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set core. my hand, in the presence of at subscribing 25. The combination with a casting box witness. having a core mounted therein and provided HENRY A WISE WOOD 5 with an open end, of a stationary Web extending halfway across said open end Witness radially. BLODWEN W. JONES. 

